Grasshoppers

Orthoptera: Acrididae and related families

Grasshoppers is treated as a chewing insect umbrella, not a caterpillar affecting vegetables, ornamentals, grasses, fruit seedlings, cover crops, and field margins. Nymphs and adults chew irregular holes, strip leaves, clip seedlings, and may consume bark or fruit surfaces during outbreaks.

Identification

Grasshoppers have enlarged jumping hind legs, chewing mouthparts, and incomplete metamorphosis. Nymphs resemble wingless adults and do not have caterpillar prolegs. The relevant host or site is vegetables, ornamentals, grasses, fruit seedlings, cover crops, and field margins. Sweep field margins and cover crops, inspect sunny edges, and record nymph versus adult abundance. Damage often advances from unmanaged vegetation.

Symptoms / Signs

Nymphs and adults chew irregular holes, strip leaves, clip seedlings, and may consume bark or fruit surfaces during outbreaks. Fresh feeding carries live larvae or new frass; old scars persist.

Life Cycle / Process

Egg pods are deposited in soil; nymphs hatch and pass through several molts before becoming winged adults. There is no pupa. Larvae cause the damage, except grasshoppers, whose nymphs and adults chew. Control works best before larvae enlarge, bore, or seal themselves in silk.

Prevention

Inspect incoming plants and propagation material for eggs, small larvae, webbing, mines, or frass. Maintain crop records that link host stage with first egg or larval detection. Priority inspection target: vegetables. Focus species or category: Grasshoppers.

Management / Control

Manage weedy borders before populations mature, protect seedlings with screening, hand-remove in small plantings, and target young nymphs where treatment is justified. Base action on active feeding, larval size, crop stage, and tolerance. Killing moths or butterflies after eggs are laid does not reverse existing injury. Recheck the same unit for fewer larvae and less new feeding.

Procedure Steps

1. Walk sunny field edges and sweep adjacent vegetation for nymphs and adults. 2. Record life stage, species features, and the direction from which chewing is advancing. 3. Inspect seedlings and tender terminals for fresh irregular feeding rather than old weathered holes. 4. Reduce unmanaged weedy reservoirs before grasshoppers mature or move into crops. 5. Use screening, hand removal, or a labeled treatment aimed at young nymphs when losses justify action. 6. Recheck edge counts and new plant injury after intervention. 7. Close the Grasshoppers incident only after new injury stops.

Safety Notes

Protect food, seed, packaging, workers, and Myco-Patrons during inspection and treatment. Use tamper-resistant placements where baits or traps are necessary, and keep pesticides off food-contact surfaces. Structural or termite work may require a licensed Florida pest-control operator.